Don't Miss

"It's painful and it hurts. It's been a great experience for me and in a weird way I have enjoyed it," Shearer told Sky Sports."But lets get something straight, we didn't go down because of today, but because we weren't good enough after 38 games.

"Big changes need to be made at this club, players need to go and others have to arrive because, collectively, we were not good enough to survive."

Newcastle's result ensured Hull stayed in the Premier League, despite their defeat against champions Manchester United.

As expected, United manager Alex Ferguson put out a reserve side with one eye on Wednesday's Champions League final against Barcelona, but they still proved too strong for the home side and Darren Gibson's superb first half long-range strike proved enough for the visitors.

Second-bottom Middlesbrough will join the Magpies and already-relegated West Brom in the Championship after their defeat at Upton Park.

The hosts went ahead after 33 minutes when Carlton Cole sidefooted past goalkeeper Brad Jones and although Gary O'Neill hit an equalizer shortly after the break, the Hammers won the match eight minutes later through Junior Stanislas.

Sunderland were the only other side in danger of getting relegated at the start of play and had other results to thank for their survival after they were beaten by Chelsea.

Nicolas Anelka claimed the season's Golden Boot award in style with a wonder-strike, his 19th of the season, two minutes into the second half.

Kieran Richardson took advantage of Petr Cech's fumble to level but Salomon Kalou gave the visitors the lead again in the 74th minute and Ashley Cole wrapped up the win in the final 10 minutes.

Kenwyne Jones scored a late consolation goal for Sunderland, who will now be looking for a new manager following Sbragia's announcement, although the Scotsman will remain on the coaching staff.

Everton finish the table in fifth place after a 2-0 victory at Fulham, who have qualified for the Europa League in seventh place despite the defeat.

Leon Osman hit both goals for the Toffees, but Roy Hodgson's team retained seventh as Tottenham were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool.

The hosts took the lead in the first-half thanks to Fernando Torres' header and Alan Hutton's own goal made it two after the break.

Robbie Keane pulled one back against his former club with a quarter of an hour to go, but Yossi Benayoun netted Liverpool's third nine minutes from time.

Elsewhere, Arsenal were in a rampant mood at the Emirates Stadium, demolishing Stoke in the first half on the way to a 4-1 victory.

The Gunners opened the scoring on 10 minutes when striker James Beattie slotted the ball into his own net from Cesc Fabregas' cross.

The hosts then made it 2-0 on the quarter hour when Robin van Persie was brought down by Ryan Shawcross and then converted the resulting spot-kick.

Frenchman Abou Diaby headed home a a third goal two minutes later before Stoke pulled one back through a Ricardo Fuller penalty. Van Persie completed the scoring with his second of the game, taking advantage of a mistake from Rory Delap.